Promoting ‘green’ travel

Homegrown companies, orgs unite for the benefit of environment, communities

The Bacala rest House is surrounded with shallow waters and fine sand photos Courtesy of Tish Martinez

When you have Human Nature, Route +63 and Save the Philippine Seas (SPS) working together for a special project, know for a fact that more than their own establishments, it will be the environment and community that will benefit more.

Human Nature is a pro-poor, pro-environment and pro-Philippines manufacturer and seller of 100 percent natural beauty and personal care products. Route +63, meanwhile, is a social enterprise that offers local, immersive and responsible tour packages for Filipinos.

And Save the Philippine Seas, is an organization that aims to protect the country’s rich but threatened coastal and marine resources mainly through community-based campaigns such as ‘sea camps’ for students and young professionals, pawikan watching, and shark conservation in Cebu, among others.

route+63 Travels President Florence adviento gives a snorkeling demo at the Taklobo Farm off San Salvador island

Seeing that one has previously worked with another, it was only a matter of time before the three finally get involved together in one major project.

Together they formed SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tour, packages that will benefit the sea, the travelers, and the communities.

“We’ve decided to partner with Route +63 and SPS because we know that saving the seas and our skin can just get better,” Human Nature’s Category Manager for Sun Care Zinia Avellaneda told The Manila Times.

Avellaneda admitted that the project has a two-prong approach and for their part, as a beauty and wellness store, they aim to put green in travelling by introducing their SafeProtect sunscreen, the first and the only Philippine made sunscreen available in the country.

“Human Nature has always been very particular with every product that we put in, so it’s not just ‘it’s good for your skin,’ it also has to br prp-environment, it has to be biodegradable, it has to be cruelty free, but on top of that, as a sunscreen, it has to reduce the impact of coral bleaching,” Avellaneda further noted.

like all route+63 tours, the SafeProtect Marine conservation Tour will serve fresh local food

For their part, Route +63 believes that their collaboration is a match made in heaven.
“Why we jive is because we not only bring the travellers around the Philippines, we also want the travellers to know the culture of the Filipinos and at the same time, contribute to the protection of the environment,” Florence Adviento, Route +63 president and founder, said.

“In our marine conservation trips, we want to integrate the understanding of the ecology, like the marine biodiversity, starting from the mangroves to the reefs, to the marine creatures. So we integrate all of these in the destinations that we have,” Adviento added.

Responsible ‘sea-tizens’
Available in three different locations, each SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tour will give visitors a taste of local food and culture, will let them experience breathtaking marine life, and will allow them to learn how they can become greener travellers and responsible “sea-tizens.”

Human nature’s Zinia avellaneda explains, ‘We believe that by highlighting the beauty of the Philippines, people would be more inclined to protect their playground’

The Manila Times got to experience one of the tours in Masinloc, Zambales.

Masinloc is a municipality located in northern Zambales and is just a five-hour drive from Manila. Known as the “birthplace of a coastal resource management in Luzon,” Masinloc is home to notable spots including San Salvador Island, Yaha Mangrove Forest and Bacala Sandbar.

The tour started with an orientation from the local government, explaining how Masinloc earned its title with the help of several environment organizations.

A snorkeling at San Salvador Island that features the Giant Clam Farm (Tridacna Gigas) and the 127 heactare Marine Conservation project then ensued. Provided with snorkeling gear, the media group saw giant clams, colorful reefs, and other living marine life.

The tour then proceeded to the rich 8-hectare Yaha Mangrove Forest that aside from the hybrid mangrove trees also serve as home to the Philippine duck and other migratory birds.

Finally, the tour made a stopover at the Bacala Guesthouse in San Salvador Island. It sits astride a sand bar, which surfaces during low tide, in the middle of the bay. With almost pure white sand and the crystal blue water, the guesthouse served as the perfect venue for a feast consisting of fresh seafood.

Other SafeProtect Marine Conservation Tour packages are go to Puerto Princesa and Bohol.

While visiting the 8-hectare yaha Mangrove, visitors are encouraged to plant bakawan seedlings

Firefly watching, exploring the Puerto Princesa Subterranean River National Park and the Sabang Mangrove Forest and the sighting of Honda bay are included in the Palawan leg.

Meanwhile, highlights of the Bohol tour are the Abatan Community Life Tour, SAVIMA Mangrove Adventure, Pamilacan Dolphin Watching and Snorkeling, and of course—a visit to the Chocolate Hills and the Philippine Tarsier and Wildlife Sanctuary.